this may be as significant to barack obama's legacy as president as obama care, almost. because this will mean his federal judges, ones he appointed, will be able to be confirmed, at least for the following year, and they will serve for decades. including three whose nominations are pending to the d.c. circuit, the second-most important court in the country. so this is an enormously important development that really will change the way the senate works. it will either, depending on your view, make this senate more efficient and fair, or turn it into a political circus, like the house of representatives. take your choice. >> and this, because here you have a democratic majority, once republicans are in charge of the senate, the same rules will apply to them, right? >> absolutely. absolutely. and that is a point that's been made repeatedly in the debate, republicans saying to democrats, be careful what you wish for, when we have a republican president and republican senate, we will jam through nominations just the way you are jamming through. the democrats are essentially